The Real Me

Chapter 12. Tangled Threads

Anastasia's Pov

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"So?..." I questioned, glancing at Gilbert, silently asking why I was even here.

"Babe, will you excuse us? We have somewhere to be," he said to Bridget, his tone almost pleading.

"I thought we had plans for the day," Bridget replied, annoyance clear in her voice, though I couldn’t tell who she was annoyed with.

"And you mentioned you have rehearsal, so what do you want me to do?" he asked, his voice surprisingly soft.

Bridget shot me a quick glance before stepping closer to Gilbert, wrapping her arms around his neck in a way that made my stomach twist.

"I want you to come with me!" she insisted, her tone childlike and demanding.

I stood there, caught in an awkward moment, feeling like an outsider witnessing something I shouldn’t.

Did they really have to act all lovey-dovey in front of me?

How I wished our house mistress or any staff member would show up and put a stop to it.

Just as I turned to leave, Gilbert's voice called me back.

"Ana, wait!"

I hesitated, glancing back at them.

They were both looking at me, and I felt a frown form on my lips.

What now?

"Can you give us a moment?" Gilbert asked Bridget, his tone soft and pleading.

Bridget’s grip on Gilbert tightened, and I could feel the weight of her gaze on me.

I felt a whirlwind of emotions inside me, though I couldn’t quite pinpoint what they were.

One thing was for sure: it wasn’t jealousy.

The tension hung in the air, and I felt like a bystander in their little drama, desperately wanting to escape but unsure of how to navigate this tangled mess.

“Um, I should get going,” I finally said, my voice quieter than intended.

Gilbert’s expression shifted, his eyes searching mine as if trying to decipher my thoughts.

“Babe, come on!” he said again, his tone more serious now.

I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, as if he was trying to choose his words carefully.

Bridget huffed, clearly not pleased with being put on the spot.

“Fine. Just don’t take too long,” she replied, her voice dripping with annoyance as she stepped back, crossing her arms.

I watched as she walked a few paces away, her back turned to us, clearly still fuming.

“What do you want, Gilbert?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, though I felt my heart racing.

He stepped closer, lowering his voice as if he didn’t want Bridget to overhear. “I just wanted to check on you. You seemed off during the week, and I wanted to make sure you’re okay. You can talk to me, you know.”

I shifted my weight awkwardly, not sure how to respond.

“I’m fine,” I insisted, even though the words felt hollow.

“Really? Because you’ve been avoiding me. You don’t have to pretend around me, Ana.” His eyes bore into mine, searching for something I wasn’t ready to reveal.

“I’m not pretending,” I lied, but I could tell he wasn’t buying it.

“Okay, then let’s go for that walk. Just us. No distractions,” he urged, his voice softening.

I hesitated, glancing over at Bridget, who was now tapping her foot impatiently.

“I don’t want to get in the middle of whatever you have going on with Bridget,” I said, trying to keep my tone light, but I could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me.

Gilbert sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“It’s not like that, Ana. Bridget and I… we're okay. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable because of her.”

“Okay?” I echoed, my brow furrowing. “You guys have plans already?”

He looked taken aback for a moment, then shook his head. “No, not anymore. We had it before she cancelled it for her rehearsal, and I decided to be with you. I want to spend more time with you.”

My heart did a strange flip in my chest, but I resisted the urge to let it show.

“You can’t just say that to make me feel better,” I replied, trying to keep my tone steady.

“I’m not trying to make you feel better. I’m being honest,” he insisted, his gaze unwavering.

“Come on, Ana. I want to spend time with you. Just you.”

Before I could respond, Bridget called out from a distance, her voice sharp.

“Gilbert! Are you coming or what?”

He sighed, glancing back at her before looking at me again.

“Please, just come with me. I promise it’ll be worth it.”

I hesitated, weighing my options. I could just go back inside and avoid the complicated mess of feelings swirling around us, or I could take a chance and see where this lead.

“Okay,” I finally said, surprising myself.

“But just for a little while.”

Gilbert’s face lit up, and it was hard not to smile at his enthusiasm.

“Great! Just hold on a second.” He turned back to Bridget, who was now glaring at us.

“Bridget, I’ll be back soon. Just a quick walk with Ana, okay?”

She rolled her eyes, clearly displeased.

“Whatever. Just don’t take too long,” she replied, her tone dismissive.

Gilbert turned back to me, and as he started walking, I followed, my heart racing with uncertainty.

As we stepped away from the dorm, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was diving into something deeper than I had anticipated, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for it.

“What do you want to talk about?” I asked, trying to steer the conversation away from the tension that lingered behind us.

“It’s not about talking,” he replied, glancing back at me with a playful smirk.

“It’s about walking and being together. Just enjoying the moment.”

I couldn’t help but smile at his carefree attitude, even if I was still feeling a bit apprehensive.

“Okay, enjoying the moment,” I echoed, trying to match his energy as we walked side by side, the weight of the world feeling a little lighter with every step away from the dorm.

But deep down, I still couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that this was just the beginning of something far more complicated than I was prepared for.